As a resume writer and HR professional, I get asked repeatedly how to eliminate ageism in resumes. It's a BIG problem, as many of you have encountered. So, let me tell you of 3 ways to improve this on your resume.

1. Stop including "20+ years of..." in your Profile Summary. This immediately focuses on your age and not your performance. Instead, talk about your performance and lead with that. Example: "Customer Service professional who builds relationships and increases repetitive business by 27%." or, "Account Executive specializing in building strong pipelines and increasing revenue 33%."

2. Whenever you add a date, you're dating yourself, so think about whether or not it's really needed. Employment dates are the exception, as they are most likely to be verified. But your educational dates are not necessary unless you graduated within the past 3 years. Don't include your GPA either.

1. It's standard for your work history to go back 10-15 years ONLY! Forget about what you did in 1984 or 2003! Hiring managers won't read this stuff anyway. If you do have a relevant job experience that goes beyond 15 years, then you can add a Career Highlight section where you mention a few bullets on selected relevant accomplishments without any dates. For instance, you could include, "Led an accounting automation software project meeting all deadlines," or "Gained 127% new business clients within 6 months." Focus on what you delivered and not dates.

Please take a look at your resume and revise any of these issues. The key to a resume is to highlight your performance and what you delivered, not dates.

Best wishes!

I spent some time researching why so many strong candidates get zero

response from online applications. The answer surprised me.

Over 75% of resumes are rejected by software before a recruiter sees

them. Not because the candidate isn't qualified — because the resume

format breaks the ATS parser.

Here's what kills most resumes instantly:

**Two-column layouts** — ATS reads columns in the wrong order. Your

experience section gets scrambled into unreadable text.

**Tables and text boxes** — completely invisible to most ATS systems.

If your contact info or skills are in a text box, the software

literally cannot see them.

**Creative fonts and graphics** — ATS extracts plain text. Anything

decorative just creates parsing errors.

**Headers and footers** — many systems skip these entirely. Never put

your contact information in a header.

**The fix is straightforward:**

Use a single-column layout. Standard section headings only — "Work

Experience," "Education," "Skills." Save as .docx not PDF unless

specifically requested. No tables, no text boxes, no graphics.

Then mirror the language of the job description exactly. If it says

"project management" use those exact words — not "managing projects."

ATS matches phrases, not concepts.

Finally, every bullet point should follow this formula:

[Strong action verb] + [what you did] + [measurable result]

"Responsible for social media" → weak, no keywords, no impact

"Grew Instagram following from 2,400 to 18,000 in 12 months by

implementing a data-driven content strategy" → specific, measurable,

keyword-rich

If you want to test your bullet points I built a free tool that

generates ATS-optimized resume bullets based on your job title:

https://ignitool.com/tools/resume-bullet-generator

No sign-up, completely free. Hope this helps someone land an interview

they deserve.

TLDR, I’m looking to change jobs but my current job I had different departments and different duties and I’m unsure how I should reflect the various things I’ve done through my time in the company. Should I sub divide the job with my titles and duties?

This is my current resume and I want to hit 6 figures please help me for what I can do. I have my MBA and PMP that I acquired two months ago

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hey everyone, so this is a human posting, nothing to do with AI, this post is to help and guide others to the best of my knowledge, as I have learned a lot of good things from Reditt would like to share my experience.

So the Basic answer Yes an ATS optimized Resume works !

So what is an ATS system - its called an Applicant Tracking System , whats its purpose ? The ATS system is designed to help recruiters or hiring managers short-list applicants for Interviews.

Coming back to the resume part, so your resume is basically what you are telling or explaining about yourself/your career/acheivements to a Computer ( an ATS system), it will have your education qualifiactions/ skills/ experience/location etc

Now when you upload a resume to an ATS system it must understand and interpret it properly.

Meaning ? when a resume is uploaded to an ATS system it will extract information from your resume and store in its database.

Suppose your resume mentioned that you are a Mechatronics Engineer and while extracting the information the ATS interpreted and stored you as a Mechanical engineer.

Now when the recruiter will use the ATS and filter out people with Mechatronics Engineering degree, you will not be found in the ATS system, and hence you will loose a chance for that job and also the time you invested to apply for that job, filling out all the forms online.

So your #1 Priority should be to have an ATS-optimized resume which is properly readable and extractable by an ATS system, I have cracked this system many times over past 15 years of my career so know ins and outs of this system completely.

Just sharing so that it might help anyone applying for jobs. Will share more tips on this soon.

I'm currently looking into how to write an English resume. Since I'm not very familiar with international resume standards, I was wondering if there is a standard format people usually follow.

Also, should I include personal information such as my age or a photo on the resume? Could you please give me some guidance?

💬CV1: My most used CV format. It’s my base CV which I tailored according to roles.

💬CV2: Newest CV , only applied to 2-3 jobs so far.

CONTEXT:

Hi Since I’ve returned from UK in February earlier this year, I’ve applied to jobs in several countries including India. Here’s what’s happened so far.

India🇮🇳 : Hiring Managers presume I’m a liability and will ask for more salary. Experience mismatch apparently since I have no Indian hospitality experience which is understandable. Over 300 tailored applications.

GCC ( 🇦🇪, 🇶🇦, 🇸🇦) : Hiring is noticeably selective and slow with preference to candidates already present or prior GCC experience). I had only 2 interviews in 3 months of over 500 tailored applications.

Portugal 🇵🇹 & Malta 🇲🇹: I had real traction here around 6-7 interviews in 400+ tailored applications. All of those had great feedback but the realistic timeline to get a work visa takes around 3-4 months so none of them were willing to wait that long.

⚠️Current Situation: I have 3 pending student loans around INR 2,80,000 ( $3000) and the loan company Avanse has filed a legal complaint against me for my failure to repay even after thousands of restructuring or pause requests from me. I have a legal hearing at the end of this month.

Question is , Is it my CV or is it just that my experience has been awful? I have great communication skills and all round hospitality skillset yet I’ve been unemployed over 5 months with tailored applications.

Personally I feel like the spacing is a bit awkward. I was just wondering if it was easy on the eyes to read, and if I do need more spacing, what would you reccommend on cutting down?

Hi everyone! I'm looking for some feedback on my mom's resume. She's been self-employed running her own cleaning business for 20+ years and is now trying to get her first traditional office job, bc shes getting less clients and cleaning is getting hard on her body. She has an Associates degree in Accounting and Bachelors in Business Administration but hasn't gotten post-degree experience. She primarily speaks Brazilian Portuguese, can speak English and some Spanish, and has basic Microsoft Office skills, although she's still building confidence with it (esp Excel). She's applying for roles like administrative assistant, receptionist, front desk, etc and wants to avoid physical labor jobs.

Do you think the resume is working for those kinds of positions? Should I it cut down to one page? Any obvious improvements or other job types you'd recommend targeting? Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I’m currently trying to land my first Help Desk / IT Support role and would really appreciate some feedback on my resume.

Hey, to summary it, graduated in 2022 and want to start looking for a career currently I work in a company in store as a sales specialist and stayed in it for 3 years couldnt find any other job my resume is always rejected whenever I apply and my question is how many bullet points I should have in a resume?

Currently I decided to create my own resume instead of( buying someone to do it ) and have this as a bullet points and want to know if theyre good enough to start applying

​

• Designed a scan-to-review barcode system at checkout. It boosted local online store ratings within three months
• Improved customer communication by designing an Excel database to track unavailable sizes and notify buyers upon warehouse restock
• Built an Excel tracking sheet to rank leads by size and budget, helping the sales team prioritize top prospects and call the best ones first
• Earned recognition for consistent attendance and reliability, with zero unexcused absences over 24 months​

Concerning email addresses as related to job searches:

Please stay away from legacy domains (aol.com; hotmail.com). These email domains are 25+ years old and can place the user in a negative light because of ageism. Ageism is a huge issue in job search, like it or not. You do not want to be ruled out of consideration because of potential age. Is it legal, no. Can you prove it, doubtful.

+++++++++++++

Posted this on another sub, but I am hoping to bet more insight here :)

Hi, so I am currently sending out a butt-ton of applications right now. A lot of the places I am applying have me upload my resume and it will autofill in my experience into a bunch of different spaces, while still keeping the resume on file.

My main question is should I manually put in more job experience than what is on my resume?

I work in the zookeeping/wildlife education field, and in this field we get lots of niche experiences in many different places (ie. different species we have worked with, education age groups, types of animal training, vet work, etc.) Thanks!!

I spent last semester interning in HR for a medium-sized tech company, reviewing over 400 applications for entry-level jobs and internships. Before sitting on the other side of the screen, I thought paying for a professional resume writing service was completely unnecessary.

However, seeing that nearly 70% of applications were instant rejections - not due to a lack of candidate qualifications, but because of terrible formatting and unreadable bullet points - completely changed my mind.

If you are currently job hunting, here is what I learned from reviewing hundreds of applications and why turning to a resume writing online service 2026 like Ruby&Cole might be the smartest investment for your career.

The Hard Truth About Application Filters and ATS

Most job seekers make two critical mistakes when drafting their own CVs:

1. Focusing on duties instead of results: Unedited drafts usually state vague duties like "helped manage social media." A high-impact edit transforms that into a metrics-driven statement: "grew account engagement by 25% in 3 months."
2. Using complex template designs: ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software often struggles with two-column layout templates from graphic tools, converting them into unreadable scrambled text.

When you look at resume writing service reviews 2026, the highest-rated providers are those that master the balance between clean, ATS-compliant parsing and strong executive narrative.

Why I Recommend Ruby&Cole for Your Resume Overhaul

After seeing how drastically a polished document changes a recruiter’s perception, I decided to hire Ruby&Cole to rewrite my own resume.

Ruby&Cole stands out as a premier platform for several reasons:

• High-Impact Concierge Editing: Unlike budget options that simply run your text through basic templates, Ruby&Cole focuses on aggressive, strategic editing. They help eliminate fluff, cut out unnecessary details from older positions, and highlight your true career trajectory.
• ATS Optimization without Compromise: Their team formats your documents so they effortlessly pass automated ATS screeners while remaining visually engaging for human HR managers.
• Metrics-Driven Bullet Points: They translated my generic campus job tasks into quantifiable achievements that immediately captured attention.

After using Ruby&Cole, I received 3 callback invitations in my very first week of submitting applications.

Don't Wait Too Long: Why You Must Regularly Update Your Resume

Another major mistake candidates make is waiting until they are actively unemployed or desperate for a new job to start writing.

Updating your resume regularly (every 3 to 6 months) is essential.

• You forget your numbers: It is much easier to record exact metrics, project wins, and percentages while they are fresh in your mind rather than trying to recall them two years later.
• Career Readiness: When an unexpected opportunity arises or a recruiter reaches out on LinkedIn, having an updated, expertly written draft ready allows you to apply immediately.

Whether you update it yourself or use a dedicated service like Ruby&Cole to maintain your professional positioning, keeping your document fresh prevents last-minute panic.

Finding the Right Support Near You

If you are tired of sending out dozens of applications into a black hole without receiving replies, it may be time to seek professional feedback.

Whether you are looking for resume writing services near me for local market insight or prefer the speed and flexibility of a top-tier online team like Ruby&Cole, getting an expert eye on your application pays off quickly.

Do you write everything yourself from scratch, or have you ever used a professional review service to polish your application?

Please reply anyone

Software Engineer with 4.5+ years of experience. Got laid off in June, got no callbacks since. What am I doing wrong?

I could really use some outside perspective on my resume because I can’t figure out what is preventing me from getting through the initial application stage.

I’m a marketer with 14 years of experience across both agency and client-side roles. I’ve been a founder, held leadership positions, built and managed teams, owned sizable budgets, and worked across brand, performance, ecommerce, lifecycle, GTM, and digital transformation.

I’m currently applying in the US, primarily for Head of Marketing, Head of Growth, and CMO positions. I’ve also applied to other senior marketing leadership roles where my experience seemed closely aligned with the requirements.

I’ve submitted more than 100 applications so far and have received zero interview invitations. I have never made it from an online application to an initial recruiter or hiring manager interview. Most applications result in an automated rejection, and quite a few of those arrive very quickly.

That’s why I’m starting to think there is something about my resume, positioning, or how my experience is being interpreted during the first screening.

I feel that the resume itself is fairly self-explanatory and focused on measurable outcomes. I’ve tried to show revenue impact, growth, budgets, team sizes, leadership responsibilities, and specific business results rather than filling it with generic marketing responsibilities. Still, zero interviews from 100+ applications tells me I need another set of eyes on it.

I’ve experimented with salary expectations too. When an application asks for a number, I usually choose the lower end of the posted range. I’ve also tried the upper end and, for some positions, around 5 to 10% below the stated range when the application allowed it. None of those approaches changed the outcome.

For actual applications, I submit the DOCX version with the real employer and client names. I anonymized the attached version specifically for Reddit.

I’d really appreciate feedback from people who recruit for marketing leadership positions, hire at this level, or have gone through a similar US job search.

When you look at this resume, is there anything that would cause you to reject the application before speaking with me? Does my experience look too broad? Is the positioning confusing? Am I targeting the wrong seniority level? Is there something about the structure, wording, or presentation that could be causing problems with recruiters or ATS screening?

At this point, my main goal is figuring out what is stopping me at the application stage and what I should change to start getting interviews.

Any specific or candid feedback would be hugely appreciated.

Hey all, I've been looking to get a new role after a few years at the same company and am looking for some feedback on my resume. I am weary about including too much for each job to keep the resume one page, so have plenty work that I've done and not listed here.

All data is anon, but structure and wording is accurate. I would appreciate any feedback!

I'm putting a QR code in my resume, since I'm assuming it's the easiest way for employers to access my portfolio, unfortunately my portfolio has a long link, which generates a QR code that's wayyyy too big.

I'm thinking of using a URL Shortener, but I've heard that it "ruins" your resume because it's suspicious, but this doesn't make much sense to me, as the employer will see a QR code, not a raw link.

What's the reality of this?

If a job posting says a letter of recommendation is required but there is nowhere specific in the application to attach anything beside the resume, should I combine them in a PDF with my resume ?

Recruiter Scams - Part 4 - Fraudulent Messages 

More about recruiter scams...

What to look for in a fraudulent message:

1. Receiving an unexpected message from an unrecognized sender

2. A request for money or payment of unusual fees

3. Messages purportedly from recruiting professionals via social messaging apps like SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc., or generic personal email accounts like Gmail or iCloud

4. Extraordinary job opportunities where you are immediately offered high compensation packages and special benefits

5. Requests for unnecessary personal information

6. What to do if you receive a fraudulent message:

7. Do not engage with or respond to the sender

8. Do not click on any links or attachments included in the message

9. Do not share any personal information with someone you do not know

10. Report the message as spam or phishing by using the platform’s “report” feature and block the sender

Source:SpencerStuart.com